Why do Catholics over the age of fourteen abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent?
To answer, let’s start at the start: The Catholic season of Lent is a prepatory period for the holiday of Easter. It lasts for the 40 days (Sundays not included) before Easter. This length is supposed to imitate the 40 days that Jesus spent in prayer and meditation in the ‘wilderness.’ Having said that, Lent is a period for Christian atonement and cleansing of the soul and body. The rules for Lent today, including dietary restrictions, vary from specific Christian faith to faith. They also differ according to geographic region and culture. One thing is very true: the rules for Lent are not nearly as harsh or strict as they used to be historically. Fasting is the Catholic way to signify three main ideas: 1. Fasting is supposed to develop and teach discipline which can be used to resist overall temptations from evil; 2. It is also a way to remind Catholics of the importance of humility and compassion for the poor, who did not historically eat as well as other social classes. By not eatin
